Patent US5046186A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US4791994A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4791994A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Book/painting/treasure/equipment saver
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1986-12-05
•
Granted: 1988-12-20
•
Expires: 2006-12-05
Abstract
Abstract A device having a fire resistant curtain attached to a base plate and a deployable curtain which is activated in the event of a fire in order to protect books, paintings, art treasures, etc. from fire, water, smoke and heat damage. The base plate is positioned so that it is situated above the objects to be protected. The curtain is sized so that in its deployed state it surrounds the object and extends from the base plate to the floor of the building in which the object is located.
Inventors
- 👤 I-Chung Ho
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 10:21
CPC Classifications
E; E05; E05F; E05F1/00; E05F1/002; E05F1/006; A; A62; A62C; A62C2/00; A62C2/06; A62C2/10; E05F1/02; E05Y; E05Y2999/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
65 words
A protective curtain assembly for protecting an article of value against damage, said assembly comprising: a base plate located above said article; a foldable fire resistant curtain attached at one end to the perimeter of said base plate; and means for deploying said curtain such that in its deployed state it is unfolded and surrounds said article extending from said base plate to the floor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
65 words
A protective curtain assembly for protecting an article of value against damage, said assembly comprising: a base plate located above said article; a foldable fire resistant curtain attached at one end to the perimeter of said base plate; and means for deploying said curtain such that in its deployed state it is unfolded and surrounds said article extending from said base plate to the floor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
70 words
A protective curtain assembly for protecting an article of value against damage, said assembly comprising: a base plate located above said article; a fire resistant curtain attached at one end to the perimeter of said base plate; a casing, releasably attached to said base plate, within which said curtain is stored when not deployed; and means for deploying said curtain such that in its deployed state it surrounds said article.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
70 words
A protective curtain assembly for protecting an article of value against damage, said assembly comprising: a base plate located above said article; a fire resistant curtain attached at one end to the perimeter of said base plate; a casing, releasably attached to said base plate, within which said curtain is stored when not deployed; and means for deploying said curtain such that in its deployed state it surrounds said article.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The assembly of claim 2 wherein one end of said curtain is attached to said casing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The assembly of claim 3 wherein said casing has a generally U-shaped cross-section.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The assembly of claim 4 wherein said end of said curtain which is attached to said casing is attached on the inside bottom of the casing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The assembly of claim 5 wherein said curtain is generally attached around the perimeter of said base plate and has a length sufficient to extend from said base plate to the floor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The assembly of claim 2 wherein said casing includes a padding on the bottom thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
The assembly of claim 1 further including a cover plate attached to said base plate such that said means for deploying is located between said base plate and said cover plate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The assembly of claim 8 wherein said cover plate is sized to fit within the casing.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The assembly of claim 2 further including a safety means for controlling the rate of deployment of said curtain.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
54 words
The assembly of claim 10 wherein said safety means comprises: pulley attached to said casing and base plate at each corner thereof; a spool attached to said base plate; and a safety cable run through each pulley and having one end attached to one corner of said casing and the other to said spool.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
62 words
The assembly of claim 1 wherein said means for deploying comprises: a solenoid valve including a plunger movable by electrical input to said solenoid valve; at least one spring loaded latch, said latch extending into an opening in said casing; a cable extending between said plunger and each of said at least one latches; and an electronical input to said solenoid valve.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
88 words
A protective curtain system for surrounding an article of value in the event of a fire, said system comprising: a base plate suspended above said article; a fire resistant curtain attached at one end to the underside of said base plate; a casing attached to the other end of said curtain, said casing including at least one opening therein; a solenoid valve; at least one spring loaded latch extending into said opening in said casing; and a cable extending between said solenoid valve and each of said latches.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
88 words
A protective curtain system for surrounding an article of value in the event of a fire, said system comprising: a base plate suspended above said article; a fire resistant curtain attached at one end to the underside of said base plate; a casing attached to the other end of said curtain, said casing including at least one opening therein; a solenoid valve; at least one spring loaded latch extending into said opening in said casing; and a cable extending between said solenoid valve and each of said latches.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 13 wherein said curtain is constructed of a flexible, foldable, fire resistant material.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system of claim 14 wherein said curtain is attached generally around the perimeter of said base plate and has a length to extend from said base plate to the floor in its deployed state.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 13 wherein said base plate is rectangularly shaped and is attached to a wall above said article of value and said curtain extends along three sides of said base plate.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 13 wherein said base plate is attached to support bars to which the article of value is attached and said curtain extends around the base plate near its perimeter.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
38 words
The system of claim 13 wherein said system further includes a cover plate attached to said base plate so that said solenoid valve and at least one spring loaded latch is between said base plate and cover plate.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
64 words
The method of protecting an article of value in the event of a fire comprising the steps of: mounting a base plate above said article; attaching one end of a curtain to said base plate; folding a fire resistant curtain in a casing; releasably securing said casing to said base plate; releasing said casing from said base plate in the event of a fire.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
64 words
The method of protecting an article of value in the event of a fire comprising the steps of: mounting a base plate above said article; attaching one end of a curtain to said base plate; folding a fire resistant curtain in a casing; releasably securing said casing to said base plate; releasing said casing from said base plate in the event of a fire.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 19 further including the step of controlling the rate of deployment of the curtain.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US306018A
Cited
US535129A
Cited
US3687185A
Cited
US3766958A
Cited
US4077474A
Cited
US3986559A
Cited
US4059059A
Cited
DE2650274A1
Cited
GB1591612A
Cited
US4161204A
Cited
US4646877A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-12-20 | 1992-06-20 | 1992-12-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-12-20 | 1996-06-20 | 1996-12-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-12-20 | 2000-06-20 | 2000-12-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |